A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement. Flush toilets, which are common in many parts of the world, may be connected to a nearby septic tank or more commonly in urban areas via a sewerage system to a more distant sewage treatment plant; chemical toilets are used in mobile and many temporary situations where there is no access to sewerage, dry toilets, including pit toilets and composting toilet require no or little water with excreta being removed manually or composted in situ. The word ''toilet'' may also be used, especially in British English to describe the room containing the fixture for which euphemisms such as ''restroom'' or ''bathroom'' are used in American English. Prior to the introduction of modern flush toilets, most human waste disposal took place outdoors in outhouses or latrines. Pail closets were introduced in England and France in an attempt to reduce disease in rapidly expanding cities.

Ancient civilisations which used toilets attached to sewage systems included those of the Indus Valley Civilization, e.g., Harappa and Mohenjo-daro which are located in present day India and Pakistan and also the Romans and Egyptians. Although a precursor to the modern flush toilet system was designed in 1596 by John Harington, such systems did not come into widespread use until the late nineteenth century.

Diseases, including cholera which affects some 3 million people each year can be largely prevented when effective sanitation stops fecal matter getting into waterways, groundwater and drinking water supplies. There have been five main cholera outbreaks and pandemics since 1825, during one of which in which 10,000 people died in London alone a physician named John Snow proved that deaths were being caused by people drinking water from a source that had been contaminated by a nearby cesspit; the London sewer system of the time had not reached crowded Soho and many houses had cellars (basements) with overflowing cesspools underneath their floorboards.

According to ''The Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000'' by the World Health Organization, 40% of the global population does not have access to 'excreta disposal facilities', mostly in Asia and Africa and there are efforts being made to design simple effective toilets for these people.

Types of toilets

Various forms of flush toilet, including the widely used squat toilet have become widely used in modern times Urinals are used for men to urinate with the female urination device being designed to allow women to urinate standing upright. Heads (on ships) are flushed with seawater. The Reredorter was a design used in mediaeval monasteries in Western Europe and later also in some New World positioned over a stream or watercourse to remove waste. The amount of water used by modern toilets is a significant portion of personal water usage, totalling used per capita per day in 1990 in the United States. Dual flush toilet allow the use to select between a flush for urine or feces saving a significant amount of water over conventional units. In some places users are encouraged not to flush after urination; Flush toilet may also use greywater (water previously used for washing dishes, laundry and bathing) for flushing rather than potable water (drinking water).

Dry toilets, which use very limited or no water for flushing include the pit toilet (a simple hole in the ground, or one with ventilation, fly guards and other improvements) and composting toilet (which mix excrement with carbon rich materials for faster decomposition), incinerating toilet (which burn the excrement), the Tree bog (a simple system for converting excrement as direct fertiliser for trees. The pig toilet from the Indian state of Goa which consist of an outhouse linked to a pig enclosure by a chute is still in use to a limited extent but the subsequent use of the pigs for food carries a significant risk for human health. The unsanitary 'flying toilet' used in African slums where plastic shopping bags are first used as as a container for excrement and are then thrown as far away as possible." This practice has led to the banning of the manufacture and import of such bags in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. A toilet that pays its users has been opened in Musiri, Tamil Nadu, India. It is the first of its kind. The feces it receives are composted, and the urine is used as fertilzer for bananas and other food crops. Users are paid up to 12 U.S. cents a month. Before the introduction of modern flush toilets it was common for people to use a chamber pot at night and then to dispose of the 'nightsoil' in the morning; this practice (known as slopping out) continued in prisons in the United Kingdom until recently and is still in use in the Republic of Ireland. The garderobe was used in medieval times and then the privy midden and pail closet in early industrial Europe.

Chemical toilets which do not require a connection to a water supply are used in a variety of situations. Examples include passenger train toilets) and airplane toilet and also the space toilet for zero-gravity spacecraft. More primitive designs of train toilets still drop excrement directly onto the tracks. The portable toilet is used on construction sites and at large gatherings.

Public toilets are ones that are open to the general public with common access from the street for which a fee may be charged (pay toilet) or for which a fee is expected, but not enforced. A charge levied in the UK during the mid-20th century was one British penny, hence the generally adopted term "spend a penny" meaning to use the toilet. Accessible toilets are designed for use by people with disabilities. Outdoor public toilets (in the street, around parks, etc.) are a form of street furniture. For mixed sex arrangements, there are cubicles varying from simple devices with little or no plumbing to more luxurious versions that automatically clean themselves after every use (for the latter, see Sanisette). Facilities without walls all around are typically for urination only, and for men only; although passers-by can see the urinating men from the back, they cannot see the genitals. These street urinals are known as ''Pissoirs'' after the French term (see Urinal).

'High-tech' toilets include features such as automatic-flushing mechanisms (which automatically flush a toilet when the user stands up, or flush a urinal when the user steps away), water jets, or "bottom washers" like a bidet, as an alternative to toilet paper together with blow dryers which dry the body after use of water jets, artificial flush sounds to mask noises such as body functions, urine and stool analysis for medical monitoring - Matsushita's "Smart Toilet" checks blood pressure, temperature, and blood sugar. Also automatic lid operation, heated seats, deodorizing fans and automated paper toilet-seat-cover replacers. Interactive urinals have been developed in several countries, allowing users to play video games while urinating as with the 'Toylet', produced Sega, which uses pressure sensors to detect the flow of urine and translate it into on-screen action.

Etymology

The word toilet came to be used in English along with other French fashions. It originally referred to the ''toile'', French for "cloth", draped over a lady or gentleman's shoulders while their hair was being dressed, and then (in both French and English) by extension to the various elements, and also the whole complex of operations of hairdressing and body care that centered at a dressing table, also covered by a cloth, on which stood a mirror and various brushes and containers for powder and make-up: this ensemble was also a ''toilette'', as also was the period spent at the table, during which close friends or tradesmen were often received. The English poet Alexander Pope in ''The Rape of the Lock'' (1717) described the intricacies of a lady's preparation:

These various senses are first recorded by the ''OED'' in rapid sequence in the later 17th century: the set of "articles required or used in dressing" 1662, the "action or process of dressing" 1681, the cloth on the table 1682, the cloth round the shoulders 1684, the table itself 1695, and the "reception of visitors by a lady during the concluding stages of her toilet" 1703 (also known as a "toilet-call"), but in the sense of a special room the earliest use is 1819, and this does not seem to include a lavatory.

Through the 18th century, everywhere in the English-speaking world, these various uses centred around a lady's draped dressing-table remained dominant. In the 19th century, apparently first in the United States, the word was adapted as a genteel euphemism for the room and the object as we know them now, perhaps following the French usage ''cabinet de toilette'', much as ''powder-room'' may be coyly used today, and this has been linked to the introduction of public toilets, for example on railway trains, which required a plaque on the door. The original usages have become obsolete, and the table has become a ''dressing-table''.

Vestiges of the original meaning continue to be reflected in terms such as ''toiletries'', ''eau de toilette'' and ''toiletry bag'' (to carry flannels, soaps, etc). This seemingly contradictory terminology has served as the basis for various parodies e.g. ''Cosmopolitan'' magazine ("If it doesn't say 'eau de toilette' on the label, it most likely doesn't come from the famed region of Eau de Toilette in France and might not even come from toilets at all.")

The word ''toilet'' itself may be considered an impolite word in the United States, while elsewhere the word is used without any embarrassment. The choice of the word used instead of ''toilet'' is highly variable, not just by regional dialect but also, at least in Britain, by class connotations. Nancy Mitford wrote an essay out of the choice of wording; see U and non-U English. Some manufacturers show this uneasiness with the word and its class attributes: American Standard, the largest manufacturer, sells them as "toilets", yet the higher priced products of the Kohler Company, often installed in more expensive housing, are sold as ''commodes'' or ''closets'', words which also carry other meanings. Confusingly, products imported from Japan such as TOTO are referred to as "toilets", even though they carry the cachet of higher cost and quality. When referring to the room or the actual piece of equipment, the word ''toilet'' is often substituted with other euphemisms and dysphemisms (See ''toilet humor'').

As old euphemisms have become accepted, they have been progressively replaced by newer ones, an example of the euphemism treadmill at work. The choice of word used to describe the room or the piece of plumbing relies as much on regional variation (dialect) as on social situation and level of formality (register).

The term lavatory, abbreviated in slang to lav, derives from the , which in turn comes from Latin ''lavō'' ("I wash"). The word was used to refer to a vessel for washing, such as a sink/wash basin, and thus came to mean a room with such washing vessels, as for example in medieval monasteries, where the ''lavatorium'' was the monks' communal washing area. The toilets in monasteries however were not in the ''lavatorium'' but in the reredorter. Nevertheless the word was later associated with toilets and the meaning evolved into its current one, namely the polite and formal euphemism for a toilet and the room containing it. Lavatory is the common signage for toilets on commercial airlines around the world, see Aircraft lavatory.

The origin of the (chiefly British) term loo is unknown. According to the OED, the etymology is obscure, but it might derive from the word Waterloo. The first recorded entry is in fact from James Joyce's ''Ulysses'' (1922)'': "O yes, mon loup. How much cost? Waterloo. Watercloset".

Other theories are:

That it derives from the term "gardyloo" (a corruption of the French phrase ''gardez l'eau'' (or maybe: Gare de l'eau!) loosely translated as "watch out for the water!") which was used in medieval times when chamber pots were emptied from a window onto the street. However the first recorded usage of "loo" comes long after this term became obsolete.

That the word comes from nautical terminology, loo being an old-fashioned word for lee. The standard nautical pronunciation (in British English) of ''leeward'' is ''looward''. Early ships were not fitted with toilets but the crew would urinate over the side of the vessel. However it was important to use the leeward side. Using the windward side would result in the urine blown back on board: hence the phrases 'pissing into the wind' and 'spitting into the wind'. Even now most yachtsmen refer to ''the loo'' rather than ''the heads''.

That the word derives from the 17th century preacher Louis Bourdaloue. Bourdaloue's sermons at the Saint Paul-Saint Louis Church in Paris lasted at least three hours and myth has it that wealthier ladies took along "travelling" chamber pots that could be hidden under their dresses whenever the need arose to avoid the need to leave. Due to the popularity of the myth the bowls became known as Bourdaloues after the preacher and the name became corrupted to portaloos and sometimes just plain loos due to the habit of shortening words in slang.

The WC refers to the initial letters of Water Closet, which, despite being an English language abbreviation, is not in common use in English-speaking countries - but is widely used internationally: in France (pronounced "le vay-say" or "le vater"), in Italy (pronouced "vi-ci" or "vater"), Romania (pronounced "veh-cheu") and Hungary (pronounced "vey-tsay"), the Netherlands (pronounced "waysay"), Germany and Switzerland (pronounced "ve-tse"), Denmark (pronounced "ve-se"), Norway (pronounced "vay-say") Poland (pronounced "vu-tse") and others. The CR refers to the initial letters of ''Comfort Room'', used commonly in the Philippines.

Lexicographer Eric Partridge derives khazi, also spelt karzy, kharsie or carzey, from a low Cockney word ''carsey'' originating in the late 19th century and meaning a privy. Carsey also referred to a den or brothel. It is presumably derived from the Italian ''casa'' for house, with the spelling influenced by its similar sound to khaki. Khazi is now most commonly used in the city of Liverpool in the UK, away from its cockney slang roots.

An alternative derivation is from Christopher Chippindale, who states that khazi derives from Army slang used by expatriate officers of the British Empire who took a dislike to the habits of, and steaming rain forest inhabited by, the Khasi people of the Khasia hills on the northern frontier of India.

The Dunny is an Australian expression for an outside toilet or outhouse. The person who appeared weekly to empty the pan beneath the seat was known as the dunnyman. The word derives from the British dialect word dunnekin, meaning dung-house.

It is now an informal word used for any lavatory and is most often used referring to drop or pit lavatories in the Australian bush, which are also called ''thunderboxes''.

The Privy is an old fashioned term used more in the North of England and in Scotland; "privy" is an old alternative for "private", as in Privy council. It is used interchangeably in North America for various terms for the outhouse.

The netty is the most common word used in North East England. Many outsiders are often bemused when a Geordie or a Mackem states they are "gannin te the netty" (going to the bathroom). The etymology of the word is uncertain, but it is believed to be either derived from a corruption of "necessity" or from graffiti scrawled on Hadrian's Wall. It is linked to the Italian word ''gabinetti'' meaning "toilets" (singular ''gabinetto'').

The standalone toilet has been variously known as backhouse, house of ease, house of office, little house, or outhouse. The house of office was a common name for a toilet in seventeenth century England, used by, among others, Samuel Pepys on numerous occasions: ''October 23, 1660: ...going down into my cellar..., I put my foot into a great heap of turds, by which I find Mr Turner's house of office is full and comes into my cellar.''

Latrine is a term common in the military, specifically for the Army and Air Force for any point of entry facility where human waste is disposed of, which a civilian might call a bathroom or toilet, regardless of how modern or primitive it is. Traditionally the Royal Navy along with the United States Navy and Marine Corps use the nautical term "Head" to describe the same type of facility, regardless of whether it is located on a ship or on the land.

History

According to Teresi et al. (2002):

The third millennium B.C. was the "Age of Cleanliness." Toilets and sewers were invented in several parts of the world, and Mohenjo-Daro circa 2800 B.C. had some of the most advanced, with lavatories built into the outer walls of houses. These were "Western-style" toilets made from bricks with wooden seats on top. They had vertical chutes, through which waste fell into street drains or cesspits. Sir Mortimer Wheeler, the director general of archaeology in India from 1944 to 1948, wrote, "The high quality of the sanitary arrangements could well be envied in many parts of the world today."

The toilets at Mohenjo-Daro, described above, were only used by the affluent classes. Most people would have squatted over old pots set into the ground. The people of the Harappan civilization in Pakistan and north-western India had water-flushing toilets in each house that were linked with drains covered with burnt clay bricks.

Early water flushing toilets are also found at Skara Brae in Orkney, Scotland, which was occupied from about 3100 BC until 2500 BC. Some of the houses there have a drain running directly beneath them, and some of these had a cubicle over the drain. Around the 18th century BC, toilets started to appear in Minoan Crete; Egypt in the time of the Pharaohs and ancient Persia. In Roman civilization, toilets were sometimes part of public bath houses.

Roman toilets, like the ones pictured here, are commonly thought to have been used in the sitting position. But sitting toilets only came into general use in the mid-19th century in the western world. The Roman toilets were probably elevated to raise them above open sewers, rather than for sitting. Squat toilets are still used by the majority of the world's population.

Culture

There are also many different ways to clean oneself after using the toilet depends significantly on national mores and local resources. An important part of early childhood education is toilet training.

The most common method of cleaning after using a toilet in the Western world is toilet paper or sometimes using a bidet. In the Middle East and some countries in Asia, and South Asian countries such as India and Pakistan, the custom is to use water, either with or without toilet paper. Traditionally, the left hand is used for this, for which reason that hand is considered impolite or polluted in many eastern countries. Many poems have been composed on Latrines in India like "Latrine Karne Jaa Rae Hain, Chakkar Laga Ke Aa Rae Hain, Ghoom Ghoom Ke Aa Rae Hain" (I'm going latrine, and just coming after feeling fresh). The Islamic faith has a particular code, ''Qadaa' al-Haajah'' describing Islamic toilet etiquette.

Toilet humour is a name given to a type of off-colour humour dealing with defecation, urination, and flatulence.

See also

Bidet

Blackwater (waste)

Close stool

Ecological sanitation

''Flush!: The Scoop on Poop throughout the Ages'' (book)

Japanese toilets

Toilet-related injury

''The Truth About Poop'' (book)

World Toilet Organization (organizers of the annual "World Toilet Summit")

References

Further reading

"Flushed with success: new waste-reducing design in modern toiletry" by Jim Motavalli. ''E: The Environmental Magazine'', March-April, 1998

''Garden Houses and Privies, Authentic Details for Design and Restoration'' by Peter Joel Harrison. John Wiley & Sons, 2002. ISBN 0-471-20332-7 Member of the Outhouse Wall of Fame

''Slanguage - a Dictionary of Irish slang'' by Bernard Share. (Dublin,1997) ISBN 0-7171-2683-8

''Temples of Convenience - And Chambers of Delight'' by Lucinda Lambton (NPI Media Group, 2006) ISBN 0-7524-3893-X

''Thunder, Flush and Thomas Crapper'' by Adam Hart-Davis (Michael O'Mara Books, 1997), ISBN 1-57076-081-0.

''Clean and Decent - The Fascinating History of the Bathroom and the Water Closet'' by Lawrence Wright (Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, 1960).

Compendium of Sanitation Systems and Technologies - freely available PDF.

The hidden room A Short History of the ‘Privy’ by Johnny Ragland

''The Principles And Practice Of Modern House-Construction'': Chapter VIII. Interception Or Dry Systems G. Lister Sutcliffe. 1900

External links

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background	solo_singer
birth name	Joseph Ira Dassin
birth date	November 05, 1938
birth place	Brooklyn, New York, United States
death place	Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
death date	August 20, 1980
origin	New York City
genre	ChansonFrench pop
occupation	Singer-songwriter
years active	1966–1980
label	CBS Records
notable instruments	}}

Joseph Ira Dassin (November 5, 1938 – August 20, 1980), more commonly known as Joe Dassin, was an American singer-songwriter best known for his French songs of the 1960s and 1970s.

Biography

Joe Dassin was born in New York City to American film director Jules Dassin and Béatrice Launer (1913–2005), a New-York-born violinist, who after graduating from a Hebrew High School in the Bronx studied with the British violinist Harold Berkely at the Juilliard School of Music. Both parents were Jewish. His father was of Russian and Polish Jewish extraction, his maternal grandfather was an Austrian Jewish immigrant, who arrived in New York with his family at age 11.

He began his childhood first in New York City and Los Angeles. However, after his father fell victim to the Hollywood blacklist in 1950, he and his family moved from place to place across Europe.

Dassin studied at the International School of Geneva and the Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland, and graduated in Grenoble. Dassin moved back to the United States where he earned a doctorate in ethnology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

He moved back to France where he worked as a technician for his father and appeared as an actor in supporting roles in a number of movies directed by his father, including ''Topkapi'' where he played the role of "Josef".

On December 26, 1964, Dassin signed up with CBS Records, making him the first French singer to sign up with an American record label.

By the early 1970s, Dassin's songs were on the top of the charts in France and he had become very well known in that country. He was also a talented polyglot, recording songs in German, Russian, Spanish, Italian and Greek, as well as French and English.

Dassin married Maryse (whose real first name is Yvette) Massiéra on January 18, 1966, in Paris. Their son, Joshua, was born two and a half months before term, September 12, 1973, and died 5 days after. Devastated, Joe and Maryse split, but did not divorce until 1977.

On January 14, 1978, Joe married Christine Delvaux in Cotignac (Var). They had two sons, Jonathan (born September 14, 1978) and Julien (March 22, 1980). Christine died in December 1995.

Joe Dassin died of a heart attack during a vacation to Tahiti on August 20, 1980. He is survived by his two sons, both living in France, as well as his two younger sisters, Richelle (b.1940) and Julie (b.1945). His body is interred in the Beth Olam Mausoleum section of Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California.

Discography

! Album

! Year

! Songs

Je change un peu de vent

1964

# Je change un peu de vent

# Il a plu

# Dis-moi, dis-lui

# Ce n'est pas une fille

# Je vais mon chemin

# Isabelle, prends mon chapeau

# Mâche ta chique

# Les jours s'en vont pareils

# Bip-bip

# Guantanamera

À New York

1966

# Excuse me lady'''

# Sometime lovin'

# Je change un peu de vent

# Celle que j'oublie

# Comme la lune

# Petite mama

# Joli minou

# Dans la brume du matin

# Vive moi

# Katy cruel

# Ça m'avance à quoi ?

Les Deux Mondes de Joe Dassin

1967

# Les Dalton

# Pauvre Doudou

# Tout bébé a besoin d'une maman

# The last thing on my mind

# Saint James Infirmary Blues

# L'Ombre d'un amour

# Paper Heart

# Marie-Jeanne

# Hello hello!

# My funny Valentine

# Viens voir le loup

Les Champs-Élysées

1969

# Le Chemin de papa

# Le Petit Pain au chocolat

# Les Champs Élysées

# Siffler sur la colline

# Mon village du bout du monde

# Mé que mé que

# Un peu comme toi

# Ma bonne étoile

# La Violette africaine

# La Bande à Bonnot

# Le Temps des œufs au plat

# Sunday Times

La Fleur aux dents

1970

# La Fleur aux dents

# L'Équipe à Jojo

# C'est bon l'amour

# Le Portugais

# Le Grand Parking

# Un garçon nommé Suzy

# Au bout des rails

# Un petit air de musique

# La Luzerne

# Un cadeau de papa

# Je la connais si bien

# L'Amérique ("Yellow River")

Elle était oh!...

1971

# La ligne de vie

# La mal-aimée du courrier du coeur

# Bye bye Louis

# Allez, roulez!

# Sylvie

# Les joies de la cuisine

# Elle était oh... !

# Le Chanteur des rues

# À la santé d'hier

# Pauvre Pierrot

# Si tu peux lire en moi

# Le général a dit

Joe

1972

# La Complainte de l'heure de pointe (À vélo dans Paris)

# Un peu de paradis

# Louisiana

# Julie, Julie

# Le Roi du blues

# Taka takata

# Le Moustique

# Salut les amoureux ("City of New Orleans")

# Ma nana

# Vaya-na-cumana

# C'est ma tournée

# S'aimer sous la pluie

13 chansons nouvelles

1973

# À chacun sa chanson

# On s'en va

# Dédé le kid

# Pourquoi pas moi ?

# Allons danser, Valerie

# Les Plus Belles Années de ma vie

# La Dernière Page

# Qu'est-ce que j'ai pu faire hier soir?

# Quand on a seize ans

# Oh la la !

# Ton côté du lit

# Quand on a du feu

# Fais-moi de l'électricité

Si tu t'appelles Mélancolie

1974

# Si tu t'appelles Mélancolie

# Vade retro

# Messieurs les jurés

# Six jours à la campagne

# L'Amour etc.

# Entre deux adieux

# Le Service militaire

# Annie de l'année dernière

# Marie-Madeleine

# Je te crois

# Ce n'est rien que du vent

# Ma dernière chanson pour toi

À l'Olympia

1974

# L'Amérique ( ouverture )

# À chacun sa chanson

# Salut les amoureux

# Le Moustique

# On s'en va

# Quand on a seize ans

# Ton côté du lit

# Le Berger ( sketch )

# Sweet Georgia Brown (duo de flûtes à nez avec Jean Hebrard)

# Pot-pourri américain

# Les Plus Belles Années de ma vie

# Dédé le kid

# Quand on a du feu

# C'est la vie, Lily

# Marie-Jeanne

# Fais-moi de l'électricité

# Pot-pourri francais

# L'Amérique

Le Costume blanc

1975

# Et si tu n'existais pas

# Il faut naître à Monaco

# Chanson triste

# Le Costume blanc

# L'Albatros

# Alors c'est qu'est-ce que c'est ? ("Harm our Love")

# Ça va pas changer le monde

# Salut

# Carolina (Sad Sweet Dreamer)

# C'est la nuit

# Ma musique (Sailing)

# Piano mécanique

Le Jardin du Luxembourg

1976

# Le Jardin du Luxembourg

# Il était une fois nous deux

# À toi

# Le Café des trois colombes

# Comme disait Valentine

# Laisse-moi dormir

# Que sont devenues mes amours ?

Les Femmes de ma vie

1978

# La Femme idéale (Angélina)

# La Première Femme de ma vie

# Noisette et Cassidy

# La Demoiselle de déshonneur

# Dans les yeux d'Émilie

# Quand on sera deux (A Cancuncella)

# Maria

# Mon copain Julie

# Marie-Ange (Fallen Angel)

# J'ai craqué

# Petit Ballon

# La Rue Marie-Laurence

15 ans déjà

1979

# La vie se chante, la vie se pleure (Claudia Barry's "Down by the Water")

# Un lord anglais

# Toi, le refrain de ma vie

# La Beauté du diable

# La Fan

# Côté banjo, côté violon

# Qu'est-ce que tu fais de moi ?

# Darling

# Pour le plaisir de partir

# Happy Birthday (Balletto)

Blue Country (English version: Home Made Ice Cream)

1979

# Blue Country ("Home Made Ice Cream")

# Faut pas faire de la peine à John ("You Don't Mess Around with Jim")

# Un baby, bébé ("My Kind of Woman")

# On se connaît par cœur ("Promises")

# La Saison du blues ("The Change")

# Polk Salad Annie

# La Fille du shérif ("High Sheriff")

# Joe Macho ("Lustful Earl and the Married Woman")

# Si je dis je t'aime ("I've Got a Thing About You, Baby")

# Le Marché aux puces ("The Guitar Don't Lie")

Little Italy

1982

# Ouverture : Le Hold-up (introduzione: rapina)

# Joe : Regarde-toi (La corte)

# Marcella : Et l'amour (E l'Amore)

# Joe : Quand la chance passe (Casino)

# Marcella : La Mer (Mare)

# Marcella : Tant pis pour moi (Giusto o no)

# Joe : Je viens comme un voleur (Il posto giusto)

# Duo : La Fête (la festa)

# Joe : Sandy (Sandy)

# Duo : Après la fête (Jesus)

# Joe : C'est fini

# Joe : À mon fils (Sebastian)

# Duo : Martine (Martina)

References

External links

A biography in French

Lycos.fr, Another French entry

Category:1938 births Category:1980 deaths Category:American expatriates in France Category:American folk guitarists Category:American Jews Category:American male singers Category:American songwriters Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction Category:French-language singers Category:French people of American descent Category:French people of Russian descent Category:French people of Polish descent Category:Jewish singers Category:People from New York City Category:University of Michigan alumni

az:Co Dassen be:Джо Дасэн be-x-old:Джо Дасэн bs:Joe Dassin bg:Жо Дасен ca:Joe Dassin cv:Джо Дассен de:Joe Dassin es:Joe Dassin fr:Joe Dassin hr:Joe Dassin it:Joe Dassin he:ז'ו דסאן ka:ჯო დასენი la:Iosephus Dassin lv:Džo Dasēns nl:Joe Dassin no:Joe Dassin oc:Joe Dassin pl:Joe Dassin ro:Joe Dassin ru:Дассен, Джо sl:Joe Dassin fi:Joe Dassin uk:Джо Дассен

name	Vicky Leandros
office	Deputy Mayor of Piraeus
term start	15 October 2006
background	solo_singer
birth name	Vassiliki Papathanasiou
alias	Vicky Leandros
birth date	August 23, 1949
origin	Palaiokastritsa, Corfu, Greece
genre	Pop
occupation	Singer, politician
years active	1965–present
website	Hey! Vicky LeandrosVicky Leandros' Greek website }}

Vicky Leandros (born Vassiliki Papathanasiou, , 23 August 1949, now legally Vassiliki, Baroness von Ruffin) is a Greek singer with a long international career. She is the daughter of singer, musician and composer Leandros Papathanasiou (known as Leo Leandros – composer pseudonym Mario Panas). She achieved worldwide fame after winning the ''Eurovision Song Contest'' in 1972 with the song "Après Toi" (representing Luxembourg).

Early career

Leandros was born in Palaiokastritsa, a resort on the island of Corfu in the Ionian Sea. Her father wanted to expand his career and went to Germany while she grew up at her grandmother's house until the age of five. In 1958 her parents took her to Germany where she stayed with her father permanently after her parents' divorce. She revealed her talent at a young age while taking guitar, music, dance, ballet and voice lessons.

In 1965 Leandros released her first single "Messer, Gabel, Schere, Licht". This was the beginning of a successful career for her with her father as composer, manager and producer. In 1967 she received an offer to sing for Luxembourg at the ''Eurovision Song Contest'' with the song "L'amour est bleu". She finished in fourth place but the song became one of the biggest worldwide hits of the year and was covered by many artists. She was shortly singing in eight languages with her albums, singles and EPs being sold all over the world. She became particularly successful in Japan and Canada.

The 1970s

In 1970 her first TV show, ''Ich Bin'' was broadcast in 13 European countries. It received many awards for its originality and thought-provoking contemporary graphics including in 1971 the world famous Bronze Rose of Montreux. It was also the first time that Vicky used the same stage surname as her father (actually his real Christian name) and became known from then onwards as Vicky Leandros having been known simply as Vicky during the 1960s. Guests appearing were Julien Clerc and Deep Purple. The show has been repeated over the years and is seen as a classic piece very evocative of the era, though at first it was not well received in all quarters owing to its surprising, even shocking, imagery, in an age when songs were not generally accompanied by visuals for marketing purposes. Throughout the 1970s other film portraits by prominent film makers were to follow which attracted interest around the world. She later went on to host a television series in the UK for the BBC, entitled ''Music My Way''.

In 1972 she represented Luxembourg at Eurovision for the second time and won the contest with the song "Après Toi". Translated into English as "Come What May" it was also a hit in the UK reaching #2 on the UK Singles Chart. Globally it sold over six million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Leandros recorded the song in seven languages. Later in the year she released her version of the Theodorakis composition "O Kaymos (Sorrow) (The Love in Your Eyes)" which became a hit all over the world in various language versions. It peaked at #40 in the UK Singles Chart. In 1973, "When Bouzoukis Played" became another massive selling world hit in several languages, reaching #44 in the UK chart. In 1974 she recorded "Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz" a song that was a #1 hit in Germany. She also found much success in South Africa during the 1970s.

In Japan she reached her peak during late 1960s and early 1970s and recorded many times in Japanese. Her second Japanese single "Watashi no Sukina Chocolate" (The Chocolate That I Like) became a notable hit. She also recorded many cover versions of songs, "Mamy Blue", "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" and "My Sweet Lord" among others.

In 1975 she recorded an album, ''Across the Water'' in Tennessee and Miami. The album was a departure for her, combining country, rock and soul, gaining her good reviews on release in the US. In 1976 she signed a multi-million contract with CBS Records for albums in the US and started working in Hollywood with Kim Fowley. This did not last long however as Leandros felt a lack of support from her record company and returned to Europe.

After her American adventure Leandros released albums of German folk songs, Christmas songs and a Spanish album which became a success in Spain and all over Latin America. The first single "Oh Mi Mama" was a minor hit, but the second single "Tu Me Has Hecho Sentir", although not promoted by Leandros or CBS due to differences between the two and a reported health scare, was a big hit in Spanish-speaking countries in 1979. It regularly appears on compilation albums and is easily the most famous and remembered song by Vicky Leandros in Spanish . A new album, ''Wie am Allerersten Tag'' went unreleased and Leandros became pregnant and took time off over the next 18 months.

The 1980s

In 1981 she recorded the album ''Love is Alive'' including duets with Demis Roussos, Johnny Hallyday and US star David Soul for a United Nations Benefit. Also in 1981, she released the album, I''ch Gehe Neue Wege'' and its Greek version, ''Irtha Yia Sena''. This comeback was consolidated in 1982 by the success of the song "Verlorenes Paradies" from the same titled next album which saw Leandros back in the upper reaches of the singles charts in many territories after a few years absence. It was also recorded in Dutch . In 1983 came the album ''Vicky'' containing the popular song and single "Gruesse an Sarah" which is regularly still sung in concerts often acapella with the other musicians and vocalists making the sounds of the beats and instruments vocally to combine with Leandros' main vocal . Also later in 1983 she recorded again in Dutch a song specially for the Dutch-speaking market; "Ver Van Het Leven". In 1984, the French version - "A l'Est d'Eden" - was a big success in France, reaching #2 on the singles chart. This single and corresponding album (''Vicky'') gave Leandros a notable comeback in Canada and she toured there after a gap of many years in 1985. Two more single releases from the album also became Canadian hits - "Tu as sept Ponts a traverser" and "Salut bien Sarah" the French version of "Gruesse an Sarah" .

In 1986 following the success of her 1985 album "Eine Nacht in Griechenland" Leandros again took time off to concentrate on her private life . The album achieved Gold status in the Benelux and German speaking countries. It was early 1988 before the next album release "Ich Bin Ich" on which she worked with Klaus (Nick) Munro . This album contained many new rhythms and was more rock orientated . Leandros did not tour though and made very limited appearances during this period concentrating mainly on her family life and her ( by now three ) young children . Nevertheless two singles were released from the album "Du hast schon laengst Goodbye gesagt" and "Oh Oh Oh" in a remixed version .

In 1989 she returned to her music career and charted highly in Greece with her comeback album, ''Piretos tou Erota''.

The 1990s

In 1990 Leandros released the album "Starkes Gefuehl" (Strong Feeling) which notably contained a new version of "Apres Toi" her Eurovision song contest winner of 1972 . The album also contained the German version of Piretos tou erota now "Suchtig nach Geborgenheit" which was the first single cut . The early 1990s saw her scoring successful albums in Greece with "Prosexe" in 1991 ( Nur Einen Augenblick in Germany ) and "Andres" ( unique album for Greece ) in 1993 and in Europe in 1994/5 with singles "Du Bist Mein Schoenster Gedanke" and a duet with Tony Christie, "We're Gonna Stay Together".

The resurgence of popularity in Greece saw first the re-release on vinyl of Leandros' early albums (with different sleeves) and later a CD release of them all with bonus tracks.

From 1995 to 1998 she collaborated with German hit-maker Jack White and released three Top-10 albums, as well as the German version of the ''Titanic'' song "My Heart Will Go On". This song "Weil mein Herz dich nie mehr vergisst" gave Leandros her highest charting record since Verlorenes Paradies in 1982.

Recent career

In 2000 she started producing her own records. The album ''Jetzt'' / ''Now'' was a success and her own compositions received critical praise. Her duet with Chris De Burgh was one of the highlights of the album. Following this she featured again on the charts of several countries such as Canada, China, Japan, Belgium and South Africa due to the many greatest hits collections that several companies released.

In 2003 she recorded a new album, ''Tragoudi Alliotiko'' with songs by Mikis Theodorakis accompanied by the Kamerata Orchestra under Theodorakis's supervision. The album became a success in Germany, central Europe and in Greece. TV stations and tabloid newspaper reviewers celebrated her comeback while other publications and reviewers questioned the rationale behind Leandros' performance of songs from a political composer like Theodorakis. Around this time Leandros appeared in many TV shows on German and Greek television including galas with José Carreras. The album made it to the 100 best selling records of 2003 and Theodorakis wrote that he considered "her among the two or three most important interpreters of [his] work". In 2003 Leandros received two prestigious awards from the Greek government for her promotion of Greek culture and music abroad and the other from the Greek Orthodox Church in recognition of her work for poor children in Africa. The latter award was presented to her at a classical concert held at the Herod Atticus amphitheatre in October 2003 and is the highest honour that the Greek Church can bestow. Leandros is one of only a few to receive it and the only female.

2005 saw the release of a double album, ''Ich Bin Wie Ich Bin'' containing new recordings of Leandros's songs. The album charted in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Leandros' Jubilee Tour of Europe started in February 2006.

In March 2006, Leandros took part in the German pre-selection for the ''Eurovision Song Contest'' - 34 years since "Après Toi". Her song, "Don't Break My Heart" which had already entered the charts, failed to win the most votes from the televoting public..

Leandros released a CD in March 2009 titled ''Möge der Himmel''. This album contained soul elements combined with some R&B; flavour, hip hop and rap. The change in direction was headline news and the album received mixed reviews. The next album ''Zeitlos'' in 2010 returned to the idea born in 2008 to record a collection of French songs in the German language.

Personal life

From 1982 until 1986 Leandros was married to Greek entrepreneur Ivan Zissiadis. He is the father of her son Leandros Zissiadis (Leo) (born 6 June 1980). In 2005 Leandros and her second husband Enno von Ruffin separated after 19 years of marriage. The couple have two daughters: Maximiliane von Ruffin (Milana) (born 31 January 1985) and Alessandra von Ruffin (Sandra) (born 6 December 1986). On 15 October 2006, Leandros (as Vassiliki von Ruffin) was elected town councillor of the Greek harbour town of Piraeus on the Pasok list. Her task concerned the Cultural and International development of Piraeus. She was also Deputy Mayor of Piraeus.

It was announced in June 2008 that Leandros decided to leave her position in Greek politics with immediate effect.

Awards and collaborations

Leandros has received innumerable awards including gold and platinum records from all around the world for discs that have sold in excess of 150 million copies.

She has worked with many composers and producers such as Kim Fowley, Leo Leandros, Brad Shapiro and Michel Legrand and also with conductors such as Herbert von Karajan and Claude Denjean. She has been awarded with the "Bronze Rose of Montreux", "Goldene Europa", "Record Award of USA", and "Song Statue of Japan".

Selected discography

Albums

Many variations of Leandros's albums were released around the world and a huge amount of compilations which still continue to be released on a regular basis . The following list is of original albums she recorded. In Japan a few albums also contain some songs mainly in Japanese or English which were not released elsewhere though the majority of tracks were recorded in Europe and featured also in various languages on albums already listed here. {|class="wikitable" |- !Date!!Album title!!Language |- |October 1966||''Songs und Folklore''||German/English/French/Greek |- |July 1967||''A Taste of...Vicky''||German/French/English/Greek |- |October 1967||''A Taste of Vicky International''||English/French/Greek |- |October 1967||''L'amour est bleu'' || French |- |October 1967||''Love is Blue''||English |- |July 1968||''A Taste of Vicky''(First US release) || English/French |- |August 1968||''Summertime Forever'' || German/French/English |- |August 1968||''Vicky'' (''To Mistiko Sou'') ||Greek/French/English |- |December 1968||''Le Temps Des Fleurs'' || French |- |August 1969||''Ich Glaub' An Dich'' ||German |- |October 1969||''I Mikri Mas Istoria'' ||Greek |- |October 1969||''Zoom Sur Vicky''|| French |- |September 1970|| ''Vicky'' ( Je Suis )|| French/Greek |- |January 1971|||''Ich Bin'' || German/French/Greek |- |February 1971||''Vicky'' (''Pes Mou Pos Boreis'')||Greek/French |- |March 1971||''I Am''(First UK release) || English |- |April 1972||''Vicky Leandros'' || German/English |- |May 1972|| ''Apres Toi'' ||French |- |May 1972||''Mono Esi''||Greek/French/English |- |May 1972||''Vicky Leandros'' || English/French |- |May 1973||''Meine Freunde Sind Die Traume''||German |- |August 1973||''Itan Mia Vradia''||Greek/English |- |September 1973||''Dreams Are Good Friends'' ||English/French/Greek |- |September 1973||''Ceux Que J'aime''||French/Greek |- |July 1974||''Mein Lied Fur Dich''||German/English/Greek |- |August 1974||''My Song for You'' ||English/Greek |- |October 1974||''Ma Chanson Pour Toi'' ||French/English/Greek |- |December 1974|| ''Your World - My World'' || English/Greek |- |August 1975||''Ich Liebe Das Leben''||German/English |- |September 1975||''Across the Water'' ||English |- |September 1975||''J'aime La Vie'' ||French |- |January 1976||''I Zoi Einai Oreia''||Greek/French |- |February 1977||''V.L.''||German/English |- |April 1977||''V.L.'' ||Greek/English |- |April 1977||''Vicky Leandros'' ||French/English |- |September 1977||''Omorfa Chronia''||Greek/English |- |October 1977||''Du Du Liegst Mir Im Herzen''||German |- |October 1977||''Suesser Die Glocken Nie Klingen''||German |- |February 1978||''Vicky Leandros'' (Recorded in USA) ||English |- |March 1978||''Ich Bin ein Mädchen''||German/English |- |April 1978||''Poso S'agapo'' ||Greek/French/English |- |October 1978||''Oh Mi Mama'' ||Spanish/English/Greek/German |- |October 1980||''Singt die schönsten Deutschen Volkslieder''||German |- |April 1981||''Ich Gehe Neue Wege'' ||German/English |- |October 1981||''Love is Alive'' ||English |- |January 1982||''Irtha Yia Sena''||Greek/English |- |October 1982||''Verlorenes Paradies''||German |- |October 1983||''Vicky'' ||German |- |May 1984|| ''Vicky'' ||French |- |October 1985||''Eine Nacht in Griechenland''||German/Greek |- |February 1988||''Ich Bin Ich'' ||German |- |October 1989|| ''Piretos Tou Erota'' ||Greek |- |September 1990||''Starkes Gefuhl''||German/French |- |September 1991||''Nur Einen Augenblick''||German |- |November 1991||''Prósehe!''||Greek |- |February 1993||''Andres'' || Greek |- |October 1995||''Lieben Und Leben'' || German/English |- |April 1997||''Gefuehle''||German |- |August 1998||''Weil Mein Herz Dich Nie Mehr Vergisst''||German |- |February 2000||''Jetzt!''||German/English |- |May 2001||''Now!'' ||Greek/French/English/German |- |October 2001||''Mit Offenen Armen'' ||German/Greek/English |- |November 2002||''Weihnachten mit Vicky Leandros'' (CD&DVD;)||German/Greek/French/English |- |September 2003||''...Singt Mikis Theodorakis''||German/Greek |- |December 2003 ||''Tragouthi Alliotiko''||Greek/English |- |March 2006||''Ich Bin Wie Ich Bin'' ||German/French/English |- |March 2009 || Möge der Himmel ||German/English/French |- |September 2010 || Zeitlos ||German |- |}

References

External links

Official Homepage of Vicky Leandros

Greek Official Political Homepage of Vicky Leandros

German Homepage and Fanclub of Vicky Leandros

Official Homepage of Vicky Leandros′ daughter Sandra Ruffin

Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:English-language singers Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1967 Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1972 Category:Eurovision Song Contest winners Category:French-language singers Category:German-language singers Category:German people of Greek descent Category:Greek female singers Category:Greek pop singers Category:Greek women in politics Category:Luxembourgian Eurovision Song Contest entrants Category:Modern Greek-language singers Category:Musicians from Corfu Category:Panhellenic Socialist Movement politicians

de:Vicky Leandros el:Βίκυ Λέανδρος es:Vicky Leandros fr:Vicky Leandros it:Vicky Léandros he:ויקי לאנדרוס hu:Víki Léandrosz nl:Vicky Leandros ja:ヴィッキー no:Vicky Leandros pl:Vicky Leandros pt:Vicky Leandros ro:Vicky Leandros ru:Леандрос, Вики sl:Vicky Leandros sh:Vicky Leandros fi:Vicky Leandros sv:Vicky Leandros tr:Viki Leandros

name	Marc Lavoine
background	solo_singer
birth date	August 06, 1962
origin	Longjumeau, France
genre	Rock, Pop
occupation	Singer, Actor
years active	1985–present
label	Universal Music
website	marclavoine.artistes.universalmusic.fr/ }}

Marc Lucien Lavoine (born 6 August 1962 in Longjumeau, Essonne) is a French singer and actor. In 1985, his hit single "Elle a les yeux revolver" allowed him to reach the top of the French chart and marked the beginning of his successful singing career.

Singing career

Marc Lavoine is a French singer born near Paris. He was labeled a heart throb at the beginning of his career and remains popular. He released his first album, ''Le Parking des Anges'', in 1985 with his song "Elle a les yeux revolver" as a favorite among teens. In 1987, Lavoine released his second album ''Fabriqué''. His single, "Qu'est-ce que t'es belle", was a duet with Les Rita Mitsouko leader Catherine Ringer. His third album ''Les Amours Du Dimanche'' was released in 1989, which sold 300,000 albums.

In 1992, the singles "Paris", also the title track of his fourth album, and "L'Amour de trente secondes" gained success. In 1993, Lavoine released his fifth album ''Faux Rêveur''. Lavoine's sixth album ''Lavoine-Matic'', released in 1996, included the single "C'est ça la France", which is a song of tolerance and was awarded Best Video from the Victoire de la Musique. In 1999, his seventh album ''Septième Ciel'' was released, with the first single as "Les Tournesols"

Lavoine's eighth album, which did not have a title, was released in 2001. Like former albums, this featured duets with female singers, including Italian singer and actress Cristina Marocco, singer Françoise Hardy and actress Claire Keim. In 2003, he released the single "Dis-moi que l'amour" and a live album entitled ''Olympia Deux Mille Trois''. Lavoine's ninth albulm ''L'Heure d'été'', included singles "Je me sens si seul", "Toi mon amour" and "J'espère", a duet with Belgian singer of Vietnamese descent Quynh Anh.

Personal life

On 26 May 1995, he married Princess Sarah Poniatowski (of Poland), and they have three children, Yasmine, Roman and Milo born on 1 July 2010. Marc Lavoine also has a child, Simon, from his previous marriage to ex-Vogue model Denise Pascale. He now lives in Paris and has put out numerous albums along with several movies.

Discography

Studio albums

1985: ''Marc Lavoine'' (Avrep)

1987: ''Fabriqué'' (Avrep)

1989: ''Les Amours du dimanche'' (Avrep)

1991: ''Paris'' (Avrep)

1991: ''Faux rêveur'' (Avrep)

1996: ''Lavoine Matic'' (Avrep)

1999: ''7e ciel'' (Avrep)

2001: ''Marc Lavoine'' (Mercury)

2005: ''L'Heure d'été'' (Mercury)

2009: ''Volume 10'' (Mercury)

Live albums

''Live'' (1988, Avrep)

''Olympia Deuxmilletrois'' (2003, Mercury)

Compilations

''85-95'' (1995, Avrep/RCA)

''C'est ça Lavoine: L'essentiel'' (2001, Avrep/RCA) 1984–1999

''Les Duos de Marc'' (2007, Universal)

''Les Solos de Marc'' (2007, Sony BMG)

''La Collection de Marc'' (2007, Universal)

Singles

Année	Single	Classement			Album
	''Je n’sais même plus de quoi j’ai l’air''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''Pour une biguine avec toi''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''Elle a les yeux revolver...''		align="center"
align="center"
''Tu me divises par deux''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''Le Parking des anges''		align="center"
align="center"
''Bascule avec moi''		align="center"
align="center"
	''Même si''		align="center"
align="center"
''Le monde est tellement con''		align="center"
align="center"
	''Qu’est-ce que t’es belle'' (with Catherine Ringer)''		align="center"
align="center"
''Si tu veux le savoir''		align="center"
align="center"
	''C’est la vie''		align="center"
align="center"
''Ami''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''Toutes mes excuses (chère amie)''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
''Rue Fontaine''		align="center"
align="center"
''Je n’ai plus rien à te donner''		align="center"
align="center"
	''Paris''		align="center"
align="center"
align="center" rowspan="4"
	''L’Amour de 30 secondes''		align="center"
align="center"
''Ça m’est égal''		align="center"
align="center"
''Fils de moi''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''Tu me suffiras''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''On ira jamais à Venise''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
''Faux rêveur''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''Une nuit sur son épaule'' (with Véronique Sanson)''		align="center"
align="center"
''Reste sur moi''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''C’est ça la France''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
''Petit à petit feu''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''Les hommes sont des femmes comme les autres'' (with Princess Erika)''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
''Les Embouteillages''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''J’habite en jalousie''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''Les Tournesols''		align="center"
align="center"
''Fais semblant''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''J’écris des chansons''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
''Adieu Camille'' (with Julie Depardieu)''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''Le Pont Mirabeau''		align="center"
align="center"
align="center" rowspan="4"
''J'ai tout oublié'' (with Cristina Marocco)''			align="center"
	''J’aurais voulu''		align="center"
align="center"
''Je ne veux qu'elle'' (with Claire Keim)''
	''Je me sens si seul''				align="center" rowspan="4"
''Toi, mon amour''
	''Tu m’as renversé''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
''J’espère'' (with Quynh Anh)''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''J’ai confiance en toi / me fido di te'' (with Jovanotti)''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
''Un Ami'' (with Florent Pagny)''	align="center"
	align="center"
	''La semaine prochaine''	align="center"
	align="center"
''Reviens mon amour''	align="center"
	align="center"
	''Rue des Acacias''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"
	''Demande moi''	align="center"
align="center"
align="center"

Filmography

1984 : ''Frankestein 90''

1994 : ''L'Enfer''

1995 : ''Fiesta''

1996 : ''Les Menteurs''

1998 : ''Cantique de la racaille''

1999 : ''Le double de ma moitié''

2001 : ''Déception''

2001 : ''My Wife Is an Actress''

2002 : ''Blanche''

2003 : ''Le coeur des hommes''

2002 : ''The Good Thief''

2003 : ''Les clefs de bagnole''

2006 : ''Toute la beauté du monde''

2006 : ''Arthur and the Minimoys'' (French voice of Darkos played by Jason Bateman)

2007 : ''Le cœur des hommes 2''

2007 : ''Si c'était lui...''

References

External links

Biography of Marc Lavoine, from Radio France Internationale

Category:1962 births Category:French-language singers Category:French male singers Category:French pop singers Category:Living people

de:Marc Lavoine es:Marc Lavoine fa:مارک لاووئن fr:Marc Lavoine it:Marc Lavoine ja:マルク・ラヴォワーヌ pl:Marc Lavoine ru:Лавуан, Марк tr:Marc Lavoine

name	Olivia Ruiz
background	solo_singer
birth name	Olivia Blanc
born	January 01, 1980
origin	Marseillette, Aude, France
genre	nouvelle chanson
associated acts	Mathias Malzieu
occupation	Singer–songwriter
years active	1992–present
label	Polydor
website	Olivia-Ruiz.com }}

Olivia Blanc (born 1 January 1980) known as Olivia Ruiz is a female French pop singer of partial Spanish origin belonging to the nouvelle chanson genre.

Biography

Ruiz was born at Carcassonne, daughter of musician Didier Blanc though later taking her grandmother's maiden name Ruiz. In 2001, she was a prominent contestant in the first French edition of Star Academy, a popular TV reality-show and musical contest. She was defeated in the semi-final by eventual winner Jenifer Bartoli but according to an interview on Europe 1 she claimed that she never wanted to win and, following a post-series tour, worked to distance herself from the Star Ac image.

For her second studio album ''La Femme Chocolat'', Olivia Ruiz was recognised by the ''Victoires de la Musique'' as the Female Artist of the Year in 2007. For the live performances accompanying the record, she also received the prize in the category of Musical Show, Tour or Concert of the Year. The album topped the French chart and was certified as a diamond record for selling more than 750,000 copies in France and made it to the top 50 of the Walloon and Swiss charts. Off the album, the music videos of the tracks "J'traine des pieds" and "La femme chocolat" were placed on rotation on the MCM French TV channel in 2006. The singles made it to the top 50 of the French and Walloon charts.

Olivia Ruiz wrote all the lyrics for her third studio album ''Miss Météores'', co-orchestrated the music and employed a crew of guest stars including the rapper Buck 65, the indie band Noisettes and the folk and dark cabaret project Lonely Drifter Karen and featured the styles of nouvelle chanson, punk, folk and Hispanic rock. The record topped the French and Walloon album charts in 2009. Off the album, the single "Elle panique", with the music written by Buck 65 peaked at #2 of the Walloon chart. The music video of the song was placed on rotation on the MCM in May 2009. Her partner is Mathias Malzieu, the lead singer of the band Dionysos.

Discography

Albums

2003 : ''J'aime pas l'Amour'', produced by Iso Diop & Mitch Olivier

2005 : ''La Femme Chocolat'', produced by Alain Cluzeau, Mathias Malzieu (Dionysos) & Olivia Ruiz

2007 : ''Chocolat Show''

2008 : ''La Chica Chocolate (La femme chocolat)''

2009 : ''Miss Météores''

2010 : ''Miss Météores Live''

Singles

2001 : ''Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)'', an Abba cover sung by a group of Star Academy contestants including Ruiz and Jenifer Bartoli that reached No 1 in the French charts

2002 : ''Paris'', songwriter Chet.

2003 : ''J'aime pas l'amour'', songwriter Juliette.

2003 : ''Pas si vieille'', songwriter Philippe Prohom.

2003 : ''Qui sommes nous ?'', songwriter Chet and Jérôme Rebotier.

2004 : ''Le tango du qui'', songwriter Stéphane Balmino and Denis Hénault-Parizel.

2004 : ''Les vieux amoureux'', songwriter Chet and Jérôme Rebotier.

2005 : ''J'traîne des pieds'', songwriter Olivia Ruiz and Ben Ricour.

2006 : ''La femme chocolat'', songwriter Mathias Malzieu.

2007 : ''Non dits'', songwriter Christian Olivier.

2007 : ''Goutez-moi'', songwriter Mathias Malzieu.

2007 : ''Thérapie de Groupe''

2009 : ''Elle panique''

2009 : ''Belle a en crever''

2010 : ''Les crêpes aux champignons''

2010 : ''Elle panique (Live)''

DVDs

2007 : ''Chocolat Show (Live)''

2010 : ''Miss Météores (Live)''

Charts

Albums

{|class="wikitable" !rowspan="2"| Year !rowspan="2"| Title !colspan="3"| Chart positions !rowspan="2"| Sales and certifications |- !style="width:4em;font-size:70%"| BEL (Wal) !style="width:4em;font-size:70%"| FRA !style="width:4em;font-size:70%"| SWI |- | 2001 | ''Star Academy, L'Album'' |align="center"|1 |align="center"|1 |align="center"|3 | Ruiz appears as one of the Star Academy team |- | 2001 | ''Star Academy, Le Live'' |align="center"|7 |align="center"|16 |align="center"|38 | Live versions of the Star Academy songs, Ruiz sings ''Paris'' |- | 2003 | ''J'aime pas l'amour'' |align="center"|95 |align="center"|87 |align="center"|– | Silver record (more than 50,000 sold) in France |- | 2005 | ''La Femme Chocolat'' |align="center"|6 |align="center"|1 |align="center"|33 | Diamond record (more than 750,000 sold) in France |- | 2007 | ''Chocolat Show!'' |align="center"| |align="center"|54 |align="center"| | Live Album |- | 2008-9 | ''Chica Chocolate'' |align="center"|60 |align="center"|185 |align="center"| | ''La Femme Chocolat'' rerecorded in Spanish |- | 2009 | ''Miss Météores'' |align="center"|1 |align="center"|1 |align="center"|7 | Over 400,000 copies sold |- |}

Singles

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !rowspan="2" | Year !rowspan="2" | Single !colspan="3" | Peak positions !rowspan="2" | Album |- style="font-size:80%; line-height:120%;" !width="40"| BEL (Wal) !width="40"| FRA !width="40"| SWI |- | 2001 | ''Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)'' |align="center"|11 |align="center"|1 |align="center"|– | as ''Star Ac 1'' with Jenifer Bartoli and Carine Haddadou |- | 2007 | ''La Femme Chocolat'' | 31 | 42 | – | ''La Femme Chocolat'' |- | 2007 | ''J'traîne des pieds'' | 23 | 37 | – | ''La Femme Chocolat'' |- |align="center" rowspan="2"|2009 | ''Elle panique'' | 2 | 9 | 74 | ''Miss Météores'' |- | ''Belle à en crever'' | 13 | 3 | | ''Miss Météores'' |- | 2010 | ''Les crêpes aux champignons'' | 22 | | | ''Miss Météores'' |- |}

References

External links

Official Olivia Ruiz Website

Review of ''Miss Meteores''

Chronicle of an amateur song (french)

Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:French-language singers Category:French female singers Category:French pop singers Category:French people of Spanish descent Category:People from Aude Category:Star Academy (France) participants

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